Adjustable height vehicle seat



March 1952 B. J. MURPHY 2,587,751

ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT VEHICLE SEAT Filed April so, 1948 2 Sl-IEETSSHEET 1 March 4, 1952 B. J. MURPHY ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT VEHICLE SEAT 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed April 30, 1948 FLTL Patented Mar. 4, 1952 ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT VEHICLE SEAT Bernard J. Murphy, Springfield, Ill., assignor to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application April 30, 1948, Serial No. 24,195

9 Claims.

The invention relates to seats, and it is concerned more particularly with a seat assembly in which a part affording a seating surface is adjustable up and down on a mounting base in order to provide for seating of the occupant selectively in raised and lowered positions.

Adjustable seat assemblies of the above mentioned character have heretofore been suggested to provide for height adjustment of the drivers seat in a self-propelled or other vehicle having hand and footoperated controls within reach from the drivers seat, as is well known in the art. The constructions which have heretofore been developed in this connection, particularly for use in passenger automobiles and busses, have been relatively elaborate and expensive, and therefore not well adapted for use in vehicles such as tractors which involve structural and performance features of a special nature and in which simplicity of design, sturdiness of construction and low manufacturing costs are of pri mary importance.

Generally, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved adjustable height seat adapted for use as a drivers seat in a motor vehicle.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tractor seat assembly includin an adjustable height drivers seat, and which will take care of the requirements of simplicity of design, sturdiness of construction and low manufacturing costs in a practical and fully satisfactory manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable height seat assembly in.

conjunction with a storage receptacle, such as a tool box, located below the vertically adjustable seat part.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable seat and storage box assembly of the above mentioned character, in which the storage box may be made accessible for placing articles into it and removing them therefrom, in a simple and convenient manner and with a minimum of disturbance of the adjustable seat structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reliable, inexpensive locking device which will be readily operable to lock the adjustable seat part upon adjustment thereof to any of a number of predetermined vertical positions, and to release the seat part for adjustment from any one of said predetermined positions to another.

A further object of the invention isto provide an improved seat frame for selective mountin in raised and lowered positions on a pair of horizontally spaced parallel supporting rails, and which seat frame is of simple and sturdy construction and may be manufactured at relatively low costs.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will be apparent from the de-- scription herein and the accompanying drawings, disclosing an embodiment of the invention, and will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the rear half of a crawler tractor;

Fig. 2 is a front view of an operator's compartment shown in Fig. 1, side frame members of the tractor and a deck structure being shown in section on line IIII of Fig. 1, and a vertically adjustable drivers seat at one side of the compart ment being shown adjusted to a minimum height.

Fig. 3 is a partial front view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the drivers seat adjusted to an intermediate, raised position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view of a seat and tool box assembly which is mounted on the tractor as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top view of parts shown in Fig. 4, a

seat cushion being omitted for purposes of ex-' posure.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line VI-VI of Fig. 4, showing a seat frame in operative position and adjusted to minimum height.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and showing the seat frame partly removed from its operative position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged Vertical section of a supporting rail and channel member in cooperative engagement with each other corresponding to Fig. 3, the section being taken in a vertical plane indicated by the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a top view of Fig. 8.

Features of the herein disclosed seat arrangement at the operator's compartment are claimed in a copending application Serial No. 22,879, filed April 23, 1948, by Vander M. Dobeus for Tractor Seat.

In the construction of crawler tractors, it is a customary practice to support a main frame by means of a three-point suspension on a pair of self-laying track units; to mount the engine on a forward part of the main frame; to enclose a power transmitting mechanism, which is operable to vary the drive of the track units, within a relatively large transmission housing which forms a rear part of the main frame; and to provide for control of the tractor from a rearwardly located drivers station on the main frame. The most commonly employed steering principle is that which requires a pair of clutches for interrupting the drive to one or the other of the track units, and a pair of brakes for retarding or arresting the deenergized track unit, as is well known in the art. In tractors which employ this steering principle a pair of manually operable steering levers for controlling the clutches, and a pair of foot levers or pedals for operating the brakes are arranged at the drivers station. A large tank for storing engine fuel is usually mounted at the rear of the drivers station.

The tractor shown in the drawings incorporates the hereinabove outlined general principles of construction and operation. The reference character I in Figs. 1 and 2 generally designates a nated in Figs 1 and 2 by the reference character 3, forms the mentioned rear part of the main frame, and a pair of box section side,members 4 and 6 of the main frame are secured at their rear ends to the transmission housing 3 and extend forwardly therefrom at opposite sides of the tractor. An internal combustion engine 1 whose rear end is shown at the leftof Fig. 1, is mounted at the forward end of the tractor between the side frame members' i and 6 and in forwardly spaced relation to thetransmission housing 3. A track belt drive sprocket 8 for the left track unit I, and a corresponding track belt drive sprocket (not shown) for the right track unit 2, are rotatably mounted at opposite sides, respectively, of the transmission housing 3, and are connected through suitablepower transmitting mechanism, not shown, in driven relation with the engine I. Theusual steering clutches and steering brakes, not show-n-, are enclosed in the transmission hous ing 3. A drawbar structure 9 for hitching atrailing vehicle to the tractor is attached to the main frame in; the customary manner andextends rearwardly beyondthe transmission housing 3, as

A top structure rearwardly of theengine I comprises a pair of fenders H, l2 (Fig. 2), a dash panel l3 (Fig.1), a horizontalplate metal floor M, a pair of battery boxes |6 and;l'l (Fig. 2) at oppositesides of the tractor, a fueltank 22 bridging the fenders in rear of the batter boxes, and a seat assembly to be describedmore fully hereinbelow and which is arranged between the battery boxes l6 and I1 andforwardly ofthe uel nk 2 The left fender II has a vertical, substantially rectangular vertical wall part (Figs. 1 and 2) and a horizontal wall part which extends outwardly over the track unit I. The fender II is secured at a rear portion of its vertical wall part the left side of the transmission housing 3 by means of bolts I 8, and it is supported on the left side member 4. of the main frame by meansof a reinforced anglebracket l9 (Fig. 2) which, is secured to a forwardportion of the verticalwall part'of the fender II and to the top of the-side frame member 4. The right fender I 2 is. an opposite hand duplicate of the fender l l, and the foregoing explanations with respect to the construction and mounting of the fender ll analogously apply to thefender l2. Fig. 2 shows a reinforced angle bracket 2| which corresponds to the angle bracket l9, and which connects a forward portion of the vertical wall part of the fender-l2 with the-side frame member 6.

Thedashpanel I3 is mountedon the. floor M which in turn is secured at its opposite sides to the fenders II and I2, and which extends in the samehorizontalplane asthehorizontal wall parts of the fenders. The floorl4 covers the full width between the fenders, forwardly of the fuel tank 22 and terminates in a straight transverse rear edge I5 (Fig. 1) in proximity to the forward vertical wall of the fuel tank.

A left hand steering, lever 20 (Fig. 1), and a corresponding right hand steering lever, not shown, for operating the steering clutches of the tractor, are pivotally mounted on a bracket 23 which is secured to the dash panel l3 and extends rearwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 1. Also mounted on the bracket23 is a throttle control lever 24 which is, pivotally adjustable about the same axisas the steering levers.

Features of theherein disclosed steering lever arrangement are claimed in U. S. Patent. 2,533,872 grantedon December 12, 1950, to A. C. Boock et al. for Tractor Control Mechanism.

A left brake-pedal 26, and a right brake pedal, not shown, are mountedon thetractor in upwardly projecting relation to the floor l4 and are operable in the usual manner to apply and release the steeringbrakes of the tractor.

The floor 14 has a central cutout to accommodate amountingbase 2'1 for agear shift lever 28 and another cutout at the left side of the tractor to accommodates. master clutch actuating lever 29.

The assembly, of the fenders ll, I2 and of the floor 14. forms a horizontal operators platform rearwardly of the engine! and forwardly of the fuel tank 22. Thejbatterybox I6 is-Vsecured-in fixed position on top of thefender II and has a padded lid 3| (Fig. 2) to close a topopening of the battery box, the sides of the box beingformed by longitudinalvertical sidewalls 32 and 33 (Fig. 2) andbytransverse front and ,rearwalls 34 and 36 (Fig. 1). The battery box I! is a duplicate of the battery box l6 and. ismounted on top of the fender l2, the. longitudinal side walls of the battery box I! beingdesignated by the reference characters 3.! and 3B in Fig. 2, and its front and rear walls being transversely aligned, respectively, with those of the battery box- [6. The top opening of the battery box I1 is closed by a padded lid 39 (Fig. 2) :which, likethe padded lid 3| of the battery box !6, is; removable;,to afiord access.

side ofthe .tractorand adjacent to the battery box 11, as best.;shown in Fig.2; The-drivers sec-.- tion ,includes.a--.seat cushionfil, and a vertically adjustablesupporting frame therefor which is generally designated in Figs. 1, 2iand 3 by the reference. character :42; and which .isv constructed as shown in fuller detail in Figs. 4 .to 6. The seat cushion 41: comprises a. rigid, rectangular up-' holstery' frame; not shown, and the width of the seat cushion, transversely of the tractor, is somewhat less :than-one-half'of the distance between the relatively opposed sidewalls 32 and 31 of the battery boxes l6 and 11, respectively. The depth of theseat: cushion 4|, longitudinally of the tractor, is somewhatless than the length of the battery-box [6, therear edge of. the seat cushion being spaced forwardlyfrom thefront wall of the fuel tank 22,: and the frontedge of the seat cushion being spaced a short distance rearwardlyg. from the front wall 34 of the battery box IE, as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the seat frame 42 comprises a front cross member in the form of an angle iron 43, a rear cross member in the form of an angle iron 44, and a pair of side plate members 46 and 41, the cross and side members being rigidly secured together so that one flange of each of the angle irons 43 and 44 extends within and the other extends upwardly from a horizontal plane, and so that the side plate members 46 and 41 extend downwardly from said plane and between the angle irons 43 and 44 in transversely spaced parallel relation to each other. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each of the angle irons 43 and 44 presents a Vertical outer flange side and a horizontal flange side which extends inwardly from the lower end of the vertical flange side. This arrangement of the angle irons provides for vertical support of the seat cushion 4| on the horizontal flanges and limits fore and aft displacement of the seat cushion 4| relative to the seat frame 42 by the vertical flanges of the angle irons. The side plate member 46 has an upper horizontal flange 48 which extends below the horizontal flanges of the angle irons 43 and 44 and is secured thereto by welding. A vertical, depending part of the plate member 46 has a forwardly and upwardly inclined front edge 49 (Fig. 6), a

rearwardly and upwardly inclined rear edge I and a horizontal bottom flange 52. A gusset plate 53 connects the front edge 49 of the plate member 46 with the underside of the front angle iron 43, and a similar gusset plate 54. (Fig. 5)

connects the rear edge 5| of the plate member 46 I with the underside of the rear angle iron 44.

A channel member 56 which is formed independently of the plate member 46 is placed with its web portion against the outer side of the plate 46 and welded thereto so as to extend parallel to and below the top flange 48 at a predetermined distance from the latter, and which distance is equal to the spacing between the top and bottom flanges of the channel 56. Another channel member 5'1, which is a duplicate of the channel member 56, is similarly secured to the outer side of the plate member 46 so as to extend parallel to and below the channel 56 at a vertical distance therefrom which is equal to the vertical spacing between its own top and bottom flanges and those of the channel 56. The bottom flange 52 of the side member 46 i vertically spaced from the bottom flange of the channel 5'! a distance which is equal to the spacing between the top and bottom flanges of each of the channels 56 and 51.

The side plate member 47 at the other side of the seat frame 42 is substantially an opposite hand duplicate of the side plate member 46, the top flange of the side member 4'! underlying the horizontal flanges of the front and rear angle irons 43 and 44 and being secured thereto by welding. A gusset plate 58, corresponding to the gusset plate 53, but of smaller size than the latter, connects the side plate member 41 at its forward end with the underside of the front'cross member 43. For purposes which will appear hereinbelow, the connection between the rear angle iron 44 and the side plate member 41 is not reinforced by a gusset plate such as the gusset plate 54 which connects the side plate member 46 at its rear end with the angle iron 44. A pair of channel members 59 and 6| which correspond to the channel members 56 and 51, respectively, are secured to the outer side of the side plate membcr 41 in the same manneras has been explained 8" hereinbefore in connection with the channels 56 and 51. The side plate member 41 has a top flange in the same horizontal plane as the top flange 48 of the side member 46, and a bottom flange 63 in the same horizontal plane asv the bottom flange 52 of the side member 46. The flanges of the channels 56 and 51 are similarly aligned horizontally with the flanges of the channels 59 and 6|, as best shown in Fig. 4.

A rectangular tool box 64 is rigidly secured to the floor |4 below the seat frame 42, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and comprises a rectangular bottom wall 66 which extends longitudinally of the tractor, opposite side walls 6'! and 68, front and rear walls 69 and 1| and a fixed top wall section 12 which partly covers the top of the tool box at the rear end of the latter. The remaining top partof the tool box 64 is covered by a lid 13 which is hinged to the side wall 68 by a pair of hinges 14 and 16, as indicated in Fig. 5.

The seat frame 42, as shown in Fig. 4, is supported at its opposite sides on a pair of horizontal supporting rails in the form of angle irons TI and 18. The angle iron 11 is welded to the side wall 32 of the battery box IE at a predetermined horizontal distance from the floor l4 and extends horizontally parallel to the latter. The other angle iron 18 is mounted in confronting relation to the angle iron 11 on a support, which is generally indicated by the reference character 19, and which is constructed as follows:

A heavy gauge sheet metal plate 8| which forms part of the support 19 extends longitudinally of the tractor in an upright position and has a straight vertical base part which is welded to the side Wall 66 of the tool box 64, and a straight vertical Web part which is offset from the base part toward the battery box H. The base part of the plate 8| has a straight horizontal bottom edge 82 (Fig. 7), and the web part has a forwardly and upwardly inclined front edge 83, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear edge 84, and a straight horizontal top edge 86 (Fig. '7). The plate 8| is reinforced at the side thereof which faces the battery box H, by a plate metal bracket 81 adjacent to the forward end of the plate BI, and by another plate metal bracket 88 adjacent to the rear end of the plate 8|.

The rear bracket 88 (Figs. 5 and '7) is set on edge against the base and web parts of the plate 8| and secured thereto by welding. At its upper end the bracket 88 has a wing portion 89 which is bent rearwardly to extend in a horizontal plane and at the side of the plate 8| which faces the battery box l1, and a rear part of the wing portion 89 is bent upwardly to form a rear stop 9| in a vertical plane at right angles to the plate 8| and at the side of the latter which faces the battery box II. An edge portion 92 (Fig. 5) of the wing 89 is welded to the top edge 86 of the plate 8|, and a vertical plate part 93 on top of the wing 89 is welded at its bottom edge to the latter'and at its rear edge to the stop 9|, the plate part 93 forming a side stop in a vertical plane parallel to the plate 8| and at the side of the latter which faces the battery box H.

The foregoing explanations with respect to the construction and mounting of the rear bracket 68 similarly apply to the front bracket 8'! which is an opposite hand duplicate of the bracket 88. That is, the front bracket 8'! has a horizontally and forwardly extending wing part 94 (Fig. 5) and a front stop 96 which correspond, respectively, to the wing part 89 and rear stop 9| of the bracket 88, and a side stop 9'! is secured to the wing part; 94. and extends; in .the same. vertical longitudinal planeasthe side stop 93:.

The: angle iron: l8 is welded to the web part of .the plate-8|" and extendsparallel to the horizontal -top .edge -86v of thelatter, one flange of the angle iron 18 forming an elongated horizontal shelf at aushort distance below the top edge 86. The angle iron.'|8 is of the same length as the other angle iron 1"! on the battery box H5,- and the horizontal flanges of the angle irons extend in. a common horizontal plane at apredetermined height abovethev floor l4.

As shown in Figs. 4' and 5, a dowel pin .98 is riveted to thehorizontalflange of the angle iron 11- and extends upwardly, at a short distance rearwardly from the forward end of the angle iron.'||,..into a vertical'aperture or notch 99 of the upper flange 48 of the seat frame 42. A similar. dowel pin is secured to the angle iron 18 and extendsv upwardly into a notch Hi2 of-the upper flange 62 of the seat frame 42.

The upholstery frame of the seat cushion 4| rests :at its forward and rearward edges on the horizontal flanges of the front, and rear angle irons-43 and, respectively, and is restrained against back and forth movement longitudinal- 1y. of the tractor by engagement with the vertical flanges of the front and rear angle irons 43-and144, respectively. Sidewise shifting movement of the seat cushion 4|, transversely of the tractor, is limited by the vertical wall 32 of the battery box IE and by a pair of lugs I03 and I04 which are integrally formed with the vertical flanges-of the angle irons 43 and 44 at the ends of the latter adjacent to the bracket 19. The seat cushion 4| may readily be placed into its operatively installed position on top of the seat frame 42, and in order to remove the seat cushion it is only necessary to lift it from the angle irons 43and 44.

Referring to Fig. 5, in which the seat cushion 4| has been omitted, it will be noted that the space between the angle irons 43 and 44 and between the top flanges of the side members 46 and 41 provides a large top aperture of the seat frame 42through which the tool box 64 is accessible after the seat cushion 4| has been removed from theseat frame 42. The lid 13 of the tool boxis so dimensioned in proportion to the topgaperture' of the seat frame 42 that said aperw ture will accommodate upward swinging move! mentof the, lid 13 from a closed to an open positionwhilethe seat frame is sustained on the angle irons l1 and 18in its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 4, and in any other vertical position to which the seat frame may be adjusted as will be explained hereinbelow.

The companions section of the seat assembly, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a seat cushion I06, which is a duplicate of the seat cushion M, and which is mounted independently of the driver's seat in 'an operative position between the bracket 19' and the right battery box I! ata predeterminedheight above the floor I4. A horizontal supporting strip is? with suitable end stops is welded to the side wall 31 of the battery box l1, and the upholstery frame of the seat cushion I06 is supported at its front and rearcorners, adjacent to the support E9, on the horizontal wings 94 and 89 of the bracketseti and 81, respectively, and-the edge of the upholstery" frameof the seat cushion I06, adjacentto the battery box rests on'the horizontal supportingstrip |01.

,A; bachrest-IBB for the driver, and a back:

rest |09 for thecompaniom are mounted at the. left and right sides, respectively, of the tractor on the vertical frontwall of the fuel tank v2.

In-order: to operate thetractor, a-- driver may place himselfon the seat cushion 4| and manipulate the steering levers, brake pedals. and othercontrolsof. the tractor in the usual man! ner, A companion whose presencemay be .desired under certain conditions, forinstance when the tractor is used for snow plow work, may

place himself on theseat cushion I06. The. padded lids 3| and 39 serve as arm rests for the.

driver and thecompanion, respectively.

Forconvenient manipulation of the tractor controls, or if the tractor is used in conjunction with allied equipment such as a self-loading.

scraper in the rearor a bulldozer or the likein front, the driver may find it desirable to be ina higher positionthan the one which the-driver's affords in, the condition in which it is shown in: Fig. 2. A desired height adjustment of thedrvers-positionmay readily and properly be taken care of vbythe herein disclosed adjustable arrangement of the drivers seatwhich permits: adjustment-of the seat frame 42 to six differ-- ent height positions relative to 'the, floor I4. In

Fig. 2 the seatframe is shown in its first or lowest height position, and in Fig. 3 the seat frame is shown in its fourth height position. Fig. 7

illustrates a'preparatory step for adjusting theseat frame 42from its lowest to a higher position. Referring to Figs. 6-and-7, by taking hold of the front angle iron 43 of the seat frame, in Fig. 6, the driver maylift it upwardly a short-- distance so as to disengage the notches 99 and H32 of the top flanges 48 and 62 from the dowelpins 98 and NH, and he may then pullthe seat frame forwardly, as indicated ins Fig. '7. While pulling the seat frame 42;forward1y, the top:

flanges 48 and 62-willride on-top of the dowel pins 98 and NH, and there is sufficient space in front of the operators compartment to permit the seat frame to'be pulled out entirelyfromthe- The tool box 64-does not interfere with such forwardmovement of theseat frame 42, the-latterbeing suitably constructed at its rear end, as explained hereinbefore, toclear the tool box. Afterthe space-between the angle irons- 17 and .18.

seat frame has been pulled out in the described manner, it may thenbe reinserted in any desired elevated position, by engaging a suitable pair of the horizontal side flanges of the .dependingside 1'. members 46 and 41 withthe angle irons 11 and:

18, respectively. Notches I (Fig. 7) corresponding to the notch 99 are formed in-each of:

the horizontal flanges below the top flange 48,

and each of the horizontal flanges below the top? flange62 at the other side of theseat frame has" a notch corresponding to the notch I02 in the The notches III are vertically top flange 62. aligned with thenotch 99, as shown in Fig. 7,

and the corresponding notches at the other side of the seat frame are similarlyaligned vertically Withthe notch I02.

and 18.

The drivers seat maythus be adjusted to any-' 1 one of the mentioned six vertical positions .relative to :the -floor- 4, independently. of theicom- 9 panions seat I06; The tool box 64 may be made readily accessible in any selected vertical position of the seat frame 42, and without disturbing the locked engagement of the seat frame with the dowel pins 99 and I02, by merely removing the seat cushion 4| from the seat frame 42.

In general terms, the tool box 64 forms a storage receptacle which is mounted on the platform l4 in upwardly projecting relation thereto, and the angle irons 11 and 18 form a pair of horizontally spaced supporting rails which are mounted at opposite sides, respectively, of said receptacle in elevated relation to the platform. The seat frame has front and rear cross members 43 and 44 and vertical side plate members 46 and 41 which are rigidly secured together so as to define a top aperture between said front and rear cross members and a transverse space therebelow between said side members. The opposite side members 46 and 4! have horizontal flange memberswhich are cooperable with the supporting rails 11 and T8 to sustain the seat frame in straddling relation to the receptacle 64 and selectively at different heights above the platform. The seat cushion 4| forms a seat member whi-h is detachably mounted on the seat frame in overlying relation to the mentioned top aperture of the latter, and the channel members 56, 51, 59 and 6| form horizontal guidewavs adapted to receive the supporting rails 71 and 8, in the manner and for the purposes de cribed hereinbefore.

Flange engaging sides of the supporting rails 11 and 18 may be selectively engaged either by rail engagin sides, respectively, of upper supporting flanges ofthe seat frame for sustaining the latter in'a lowered position, or by rail engaging sides. respectively, of lower supporting flanges of the seat frame for sustaining the latter in a raised position. By way of example, the flange 48 and the top flange of the channel 56 represent first upper and lower supporting flanges, the flange 62 and the top flange of the channel 59 represent second upper and lower supporting flanges, and the angle irons 11 and '18 represent first and second supporting rails, respectively. The mentioned first flanges have vertical apertures, namely the not h 99 in the upper flange 48 and the notch I II in the top flange of the channel 56, which are selectively engageable with a dowel element 98.

secured to'the first supporting rail 11 and extending vertically from the flange engaging side thereof, and the vertical spacings of the men-- tioned lower flanges from the overlying upper flange th t is the spacings of the top flanges of t e channels 56, 59 from the overlying flanges 48, 62. are so proportioned relative to the supporting rails l1, l8 and 'dowel element 98 as to permit engagement of said dowel element with and disengagement thereof from the vertical aperture 99 of the first supporting flange 48 by lowering and raising movements, respectively, of the seat frame into and out of the lowered position in which it is shown in Fig. 4.

From another point of View, the bottom flanges of the channels 56 and 59 may be considered as the lower flanges, and the top flanges of the channels 56, 59 may be considered as intermediate flanges. Under these assumptions, the seat frame comprises first upper, intermediate and lower supporting flanges connected with the side member 46, and second upper, intermediate and lower supporting flanges connected with the side member 41, so that the first and second supporting rails ll, 78 may beselectively engaged with said upper flanges, namely the flanges 48, 62, respectively, for sustaining the seat frame in a lowered position; or with said intermediate flanges, namely the top flanges of the channels 56, 59, respectively, for sustaining the seat frame in an intermediate position; or with said lower flanges, namely the bottom flanges of the channels 56, 59, respectively, for sustaining the seat frame in a raised position. Thefirst flanges, that is the flange 48 and the top and bottom flanges of the channel 59, have vertical apertures for selective engagement with the dowel element 98, and the intermediate flanges, that is the top flanges oi the channels 56, 59, are vertically spaced from the overlying upper and from the underlying lower flanges so as to permit engagement of the dowel element 98 with and disengagement thereof from the aperture 99 of the first upper flange 48 by lowering and raising movements, respectively, of the seat frame into and out of its lowered position, and so as to permit engagement of the dowel element 98 with and disengagement thereof from the aperture III of the first intermediate flange, that is the top flange of the channel 56, by lowering and raising movements, respectively, of the seat frame into and out of, said intermediate position thereof.

It should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the hereinabove described forms and details, and that the invention includes such other forms and modifications as are embraced by the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent: 7

1. A seat frame for selective mounting in raised and lowered positions on a pair of horizontally spaced parallel supporting rails, comprising a pair of front and rear angle irons and a pair of side plate members rigidly secured together so that one flange of each of said angle irons extends within and the other flange of each of said angle irons extends upwardly from a horizontal plane, and so that said side plate members extend downwardly from said plane and between said angle irons in transversely spaced parallel relation to each other, and channel members formed separately of said side plate members and secured thereto at their web portions so as to extend parallel to said horizontal plane, said channel members being adapted, respectively, to sustain said seat frame in said raised and lowered positions on said supporting rails.

2. A seat frame as set forth in claim 1, in which a plurality of said channel members are secured to each of said side plate members in vertically spaced relation to each other.

3. In a tractor having an operators platform and vertical side members of a seat compartment, mounted on said platform to extend longitudinally of the tractor at opposite sides thereof, the combination of, a receptacle of lower height than said side members, mounted at one side of the tractor between said side members and in transversely spaced relation to the latter, a horizontal seat supporting rail secured above said platform to the side member at said one side of the tractor and in confronting-relation to the other side member, a bracket structure secured to said receptacle and having an upstanding part laterally offset from said receptacle toward said other side member, another horizontal seat supporting rail secured to said upstanding part of said bracket structure in confronting relation to said first mentioned supporting rail, a drivers seat mounted onsaid supporting rails in overlying relation to said --receptacle fen-selective adjustment to raised and lowered positions, and a companions seat operatively supported at opposite sides thereof -on said upstanding part of said bracket struc- -=ture andon said other sidemember; respectively.

4. adjustable heightseat assembly comprising; relativelycooperable seat'and base struc- I "tures, one having -a-pair of horizontal support- --ingrails extending parallel to each other atoppo- I site sides thereof, andpthe other havingvertii cally-extended side portions in laterally confrontingrelation to said supporting rails, respectively, "a set;of channel-members formed separately of "'said'seat and base. members and secured at their *webportions to one of said vertically extending Aside portionsin parallel vertically spaced relationmto each other, and another set of chan- -;nel members .formed separately, of said seat and jjbase members and secured at, their web portions I jto .the other. of said vertically extending side ,portions.,,1n parallel vertically spacedrelation to .;each other,.each,ofsaidffirst mentioned set of ehannelmembers. 'formin a ho izontal sui ew r adapted. to receive the supporting ,rail adjacent 'tosaid one side member, and each nirsaidsec- 19nd. mentioned set of channel members forming ,a. horizontal guideway adapted to receive the "supporting.railadjacent ,tosaid other side mem- .,ber.

T5.- An ,-.adjustable .heightv seat assembly .as set forth-'in claim .4, ,in which ,the flanges of .-.each set of channel members are spaced substantially .equal vertical distances from each other;

.6. .A-seat framefor selective mounting in raised and lowered positions onfirst andsecond horictzontally. spacedparallel supporting rails compris- .ing, in. combination, a pair of vertical side mem- .bers,.means rigidly. securing saidside members in parallel relation to each other,,first upper and ,lowersupporting flangesconnected with one of said side .members, andsecond-upperand lower .supportingflanges connected with the other of .saidsidememberaso that said supporting rails .may'beselectively engagedeither with said ,upper flanges, respectively, for sustaining said seat .frameinsaid lowered position, or. withsaid lower flanges, respectively, for sustaining said seat frame-in said raised position, said first flanges ,having verticalapertures forselective engagement witha dowel element projecting upwardly ,from ,said first supporting rail, and said lower flangesbeing vertically spaced fromgtheoverly- .ingupper .flanges so. as topermit. engagement of 'said dowel element with and disengagement thereof from said aperturelof, saidgiirst. upper Qflange by lowering and, raising. movements, respectively, of said seat frame into and out of said lowered position thereof. I

'7. A seat frame for selective. mounting, in raised,"intermediatexand lowered positiononfirst --and second horizontally. spaced parallelsupporting rails comprising, 'in combination, a pair of vertical sideimembers,-means rigidly securing said side: members in parallel, relation to each other, first ;upper, intermediate and lower supporting flanges connected'with one-of said side members, "and second upper, intermediate and lower supporting flanges connected withthe other of said side members, so that saidsupporting rails may be'selectively engaged with said upp r flanges, "respectively, for sustaining said seat framesaid lowered position, or with said in- -terme'diate flanges, respectively,--for sustaining isaid sea t frame insa'id intermediate-position, or withsaid-"-lower flanges, respectively, for sustain- Iing saidseatiframe'in said raised position; said first flanges havingvertical apertures for-seleciii tive engagement with ,aadowel element projecting upwardly fromsaid'first supportingrail, and said intermediatefianges :being vertically spaced from the overlying upper andfrom the underlying lower flanges so as .to permit engagement ofsaid from-said aperture of :said first upper flange by lowering and raising movements, respectively, of

said seat frame into and out of said lowered'posi- 'tion-thereof, and so as to permit engagement of said dowel element :with and disengagement thereof from said aperture of-said first intermediate flange by lowering and raising'movements, respectively, ofsaid seat frame into :and

I -out of said intermediate position thereof.

8. -A-seat frame as set forth in claim '7, in

which said verticalapertures of said first upper, intermediate and lower supporting flanges are vertically aligned with each other.

9. Anadjustable 'height seat assembly comprising, in combination, relatively cooperable seat 7 and base structures, one having first-and second horizontal supporting rails extending parallel to each other at opposite sides thereof, and the "other-having vertical side-portions in laterally confronting relation to said supporting rails, first upper and'lower supporting flanges 'connected with one of saidxsideportions,and second upper and lower supporting flanges connected withthe other of said side portionsso that'flange engaging sides-of said supporting railsmay be selectively engaged either byrail' engaging sides,

sr'espectively, ofpnespair ofrsaidfirst and second flanges .;for sustaining said seat structure ina lowered :p-osition, orby rail engaging sides,-"-respectively, of the other pair of said first andzsec- 0nd flanges for sustaining Isaidseat structure in 'gageable with said dowel element upon adjustment of said seat l structure 'to said lowered and raisedpositions thereof; and the vertical spacings of :said lower flanges'from the overlying upper flanges being soproportioned relative tosaid supporting rails and'dowel element as to permit engagement of saiddowel element with and .disengagement thereof from the-vertical aperture :of-theflrst supporting flange ofsaid one pair by loweringand raising movements, respectively, of ,saidrseat structure into and "out of said lowered position thereof.

"BERNARD J.IMURPHY.

- -REFERENCES CITED The following reierencesare of record in the -r'file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

